Combing machine for textile fibers



Oct. 7, 1947. v.1. w. NASMITH 2,428,633

J COMBING MACHINE FQR TEXTILE FIBERS Filed Jan; 26, 1942 I BJ Hi5l/Iforn 3 1 i 1 [pun/01w:

A v %MM Patented Oct. 7, 1947 COMBING MACHINE FOR TEXTILE FIBERS JohnWilliam Nasmith, Heaton Mersey,

Manchester, England Application January 26, 1942, Serial No. 428,266 InGreat Britain July 10, 1941 Sections 3 and 10, Public Law 690, August 8,1946. Patent expires July 10, 1961 6 Claims. (Cl. 19-116) In the art ofcombing textile fibres, combing machines of the rectilinear typehavebeen and are being constructed in which the usual pair of nippers whichgrips a tuft of fibres as it is being combed has its swinging movement,to and from the detaching rollers, upon a point situated above thecombing cylinder. This type of machine is first mentioned in thespecification of British Letters Patent No, 132,987 granted to me, andafter various methods of mounting the usual top comb in such a machinehad been proposed and employed the mounting took the form at presentindustrially employed, of a frame oscillated about a pivot point andcarrying arms to which the top comb is attached, projections on the armssliding in grooves in the frame. The top comb falls to engage the fibretuft being dealt with, and rises in disengagement therefrom, by contactwith and release from a fixed member, as a result of the oscillatorymovement. When the parts are accurately made and carefully machined, andassuming that the setting of the top comb is always carefully effected,this form works well. Any departure from these essentials, however, andordinary wear, affect the working of the machine, as the top comb mustof course slide freely and penetrate into the fibre tuft and thenslidably withdraw therefrom at every nip.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide a simple andefficient form of mounting for the top comb, and method of operation ofthe same, in which the sliding movement above described and itsdisadvantages and deficiencies are altogether eliminated. 'To achievethis, in a combing machine of the type referred to, the top comb is somounted in a solid carrier member and controlled that in itsreciprocatory movement it follows two different arcuate paths, along oneof which it moves to a point of its penetration into and ultimatewithdrawal from the fibre tuft, whilst between that point and thedetaching rollers, when engaged in the tuft, it moves upon the otherpath. This is best attained by mounting the top comb carrier upon apivotal point, with means for transferring it from that pivotal point toanother as a result of its own reciprocation.

A further object of the present invention is to arrange the operatingmechanism of the top comb in such a manner that the moment ofpenetration of the same into the fibre tuft at each reciprocation may beadjustably determined, and, arising from this, means can be provided forpermitting such adjustment of the top combs of all the heads of acombing machine, simultaneously and to exactly the same degree,

. 2 These secondary objects are attained, firstly, by so mounting one ofthe two points of oscillation of the top comb that variation of point ofcontact of the top comb teeth with the fibre tuft, with ensuingpenetration of said teeth into the latter,

will occur at a point of the arc determined by the adjustment of thepoint of oscillation. Secondly by connecting together the mechanicalmembers which are regulatable to vary this point of oscillation, in allthe heads of the combing machine, to a common setting shaft, thesimultaneous adjustment of all the points may be effected simply andwithout chance of error.

It may be desirable in some cases, in view of the nature offibres beingtreated, to cause the top comb to remain for a longer time in engagementwith the fibre tuft, before its withdrawal from the same. That is tosay, instead of making identical the point of penetration of the topcomb into the tuft and its point of subsequent withdrawal therefrom, thelift might be delayed to ensure thorough treatment of the fibres beforethe topcomb leaves them. This may be simply effected in the presentinvention by giving the setting shaft above referred to a slight rockingmotion so that the transfer of the comb to the point of oscillationwhich causes withdrawal of the top comb teeth from the fibre tuft iscorrespondingly delayed, reverse rocking of the shaft for the nextstroke bringing the said point of oscillation to that for thepenetration of the comb. In some cases greater control of the amount ofwaste fibre taken out in the combing can be exercised by this regulationof the times of Denetration of the top comb into, and withdrawal from,the fibre tuft.

Further, it is desirable, again having in mind the various kinds offibre which may be subjected to combing, to vary the amplitude of throwof the top comb, in its oscillation to and from the detaching rollers. Adevice for this purpose may be suitably incorporated in a combingmachine of the type referred to in the manner hereinafter described. I V

The invention embodying the means for carrying out the first above namedobject, with the combination of the other features above set forth, in asimple and compact form, will now be described with reference toFigure 1of the annexed drawings, which shows the relevant parts in sideelevation, parts being considered duplicated on the other side of thecombing head where necessary. Figure 1a is a detail at right angles tothe View of Figure 1,of a part of the mechanism. So far as the top combitself and its operative function in relation to the fibre combing, andthe various parts of a combing machine of the type hereinbefore referredto, are concerned, these may be as usual; and further referenceto-them.is'

deemed unnecessary. V Referring to the drawing Figure 1, the position ofthe usual combing cylinder is indicated at vC and the lower roller of adetaching roller pair at end of which screw rests, in the arawm'g, p n'-the bowl ll fitted upon the pin l2 fixed in the end of shaft Hi theposition of all the arms i3 in the machine to regulate the moment ofpenetration can be altered simultaneously. Should it not, be desirableto make independent the points of penetration into, andwithdrawal" ofthe top comb teeth from, th fibre tuft,'the rocking of the a settingshaft to produce the time lag above demachine framing, forming an openbearing} This 1 pin I2 serves as the pivot point for the oscillation ofthe topfcomb when thelatter; is actually engagedin th'e fibreitujt. p 7

Also .pivoting upon't'hegpini i2 is the arm I3 which carries the bowl lib-see also detail Figure I'd-and, as 'Sh0WIl;,this bowl ;is ,just belowthe screw 1. Thus, as ;the;top comb oscillates above the centre 12, thearm I3;being. held, the said screw will'make contact. with, :andjleave,the bowl. As the-top comb 3 withdraws on its backward oscillatorymovement from the detachin roller D, itherocking of the arm 5uponjtsqpivot l2 bringsthe screw 1 upon. the ;b owl l4. Aimethod ofrocking the arm 5 with 15aWl1l'be later described. As. the backward:movement 'of the top comb continues-,it-will be clear that gitspivctalcentreisnow, transferred -t0j the :bowl J 4 from the pivot pin l-2thescrew 97 lifting .from the bowl l-l as 33, resultfof the movement.Movingaround this new J pivotalcentre the top jcomb lifts from thefibre;tuft,xand ongthefreturn oscillation it descends into andagain'engagesthe ;same. Continned movement then causes :screw, 1 to liftfrom therbowl Mfand the screw-9 toaengage again with bowl 'I l, thepivotal gpointbeing thus again 'changed. Adjustment ;of 'thesscrew :9determines the depth-of .penetrationof the top :comb teeth into1thefibretuft. 1 l

The p'athrofithe needlesgef the :top combin the movements isindicatedinbroken lines at A, and

A, When .tfollowingj'thearcyA' the pivotjpoint is pin [2 and the depthof penetration 0;f the needles -depends upon adjustment of the screw 9as alfeady stated. Thegarcuate :path ;A' is I01- lowed twhenithe bowl llyconstitutes the pivot point, and A,sindicatesgtherefore thepoint ofpenetration and withdrawal from the fibre tuft ,of .the'top'comb teeth.,;If the arm l3 andthus the bowl I14 were fixed, this .point'A",wouldrremain constant. The;arm; I 3 is however. connected to a :furtherarm -15 lupon the shaft Iii which i'sthe setting shaft;Bvjsuit'ablycontrolling this shaftlfi from the-headstock of the mach ne,the arm [3 at each head 'inthe ,combingmachine can be slightly movedaround its pivot l2 to increase the distance between thebowl 1| 4carried by such arm There is thus, when the top and. the screw. 1.combteeth, have ;r.eached,,the point A" .on -the backward movement,a.small,time,-lag as screw 1 is descending :to make.v contact with, bowlLSO thatthe withdrawal of .the top comb teeth from the. fibre ftuft is;delayed to a point to the right of point A 'as ;viewed in the drawing.The arm iapplieditothe top comb movement.

armed lever I1 is rocked by known means about 's'cribed may be omitted,the said shaft being still adjustable to adjust the point ofpenetration,

which is thusmade also the point of withdrawal, of the topcom'b. I

In the Figure l is shown a means for variation of the'throw or amplitudeof oscillation of the top comb; conveniently incorporated in a machine-head havingthe invention previously described The threelink 20, andlever n constitute thefnieans for rocking such shaftto an extent whichis regulated by the adjustment of the stud 2| in the-arcuate slot 22which is struck from centre I 3. It follows from the latter that thedrive may be adjusted without in any way affecting the position ofthe-top comb!) of any;head of themachineduring 1 such adjustment. 7 Theamplitude ofthrow of the top comb will however be-va-r'ied according tothe distance to which the stud 2d is adjusted to or from the top combshaft 24. Upon the shaft 24 is keyed the lever 28 to whichispivoted theend of the connecting rod 29 carrying the fork 30 which engages the pin.3I,-in the top comb arm 5. The adjustable drive is thus transmitted tothe top comb. e K I I claim: v W

'1. In a textile combing machine -a top cornb and carrier therefor,forming. a solid unit,.such unit oscillating to and fromthedetachingroller position of the machine around a pivot pointfand asecondary pivot to which the unit -is'itransferred temporarily at each.oscillation as the op- .ward movement ofthe stop comb; and an fopenbearin upoutheunitcn a n .W 'a e gageable fromthe-iirstpivo .pcint-: 3.In a textileicombinmmachinega unit-consist- .ing of'top comb and :car iiar wtu m which the unit is releasably'held means for oscillating suchunitabout such pivot, and asecondary pivot in the oscillatory path ofsuch unit with iwhich pivot .the; unit makes gcontactfin the oscillationof the latter .with' resultant release of, the same from the firstpivot. 1

4. In 7 a textile fcombing; machine; con 7 sisting f :top omba d; ca rir,:-a-.-pivot upon' which the unitis-releasably;held,'means for esciln hun t a ound such-s v ra d auadr iustable secondary-pi mime-o l t ry pathl3 being restored to position bythe return move.-

ment of 'thegsetting shaft, 16 for the next stroke,

of such un 7 V unit'make s. contact: in-ztheioscillation V of;theilatter with resultant release ofthesame from. the first 5. In atextile amusg mans nsvn ear-r anismas claimed in claim 4, a pivoted armwhich it with which at i s iJ' lSted .point the r bears the secondarypivot, and a rocked setting shaft connected with and imparting rockingmotion to the arm and consequent movement of its borne pivot to and fromthe normal position of the latter, for the purpose hereinbefore setforth.

6. In a textile combing machine, the combination of a top comb andcarrier therefor constituting a solid unit, two pivot points with whichthe said unit on oscillation makes alternate engagement withsimultaneous release of contact with the other, a top comb shaft, alever borne thereby, a connecting rod between the lever and the top combcarrier, a further lever upon the top comb shaft such lever having anarcuate slot therein, an oscillated driving lever, and a link pivotedthereto, the other end of such link engaging in the arcuate slot andbeing adjustable therein to and from the top comb shaft.

JOHN WILLIAM NASMITI-I.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 5 file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

